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Wen 丨 Qinghe Xu
Editor丨Qinghe Xu
introduction
The manor system in medieval Western Europe was a form of economic and social organization in feudal society, which was a concrete manifestation of the exploitation of peasants by feudal lords in Western Europe by land. The manorial system played an important role in the history of Western Europe, not only influencing the social structure, political system, cultural traditions and religious beliefs of Western Europe, but also promoting economic development and social change in Western Europe. So, how did the manorial system in medieval Western Europe come about? And what are the characteristics?
background
The manor was a self-sufficient economic unit, consisting of lords' own camps, peasant shares, communal land, and castles. Within the estate, the laborers were mainly peasants attached to the estate, most of whom were serfs. In order to obtain the right to use the land, the peasants had to pay various forms of rent to the lords, and were subject to the personal servitude and judicial power of the lords.
The origins of the manor system can be traced back to the slave estates of the ancient Roman Empire, which later developed under the influence of Germanic invasions and the system of fiefdoms. During the Roman Empire, large landowners used slaves to engage in agricultural production on the estate, forming a huge slave estate economy. With the decline of the Roman Empire and the invasion of the Germans, slavery gradually dissolved, and slaves were transformed into serfs or semi-freedmen, becoming dependent peasants of feudal lords. The Germans combined their own Marc (rural commune) system with the Roman manor system to form a new feudal manor system.
The manorial system in medieval Western Europe was mainly distributed in France and England. In these regions, the manor system showed certain regional differences. In some areas, estates were cultivated by slaves and had no peasant shares; In other areas, estates had dependent peasants to cultivate small plots of land and pay rent in kind to the lords; There were also areas where free-status peasants rented the land of feudal lords and paid rent in kind or currency.
The manor system reached its peak between the 9th and 13th centuries. During this period, Western European society was divided and turbulent, with weak state power, inconvenient transportation, underdeveloped commodity-money relations, and urban and commercial decline. In this context, the feudal lords, relying on their land and power, established an independent, self-sufficient, professionally cooperative, hierarchical, closed and conservative form of economic and social organization on the estate. Although there were some problems and restrictions in the manor system, it played an important economic and social role in the society of that time, contributing to the stability and development of feudal society.
formation
The formation of the manor system in Western Europe in the Middle Ages can be traced back to the slave manor of the ancient Roman Empire and the invasion and settlement of the Germanic people. During the ancient Roman Empire, large landowners used slaves to engage in agricultural production on the estate, forming a huge slave manor economy. However, with the decline and collapse of the Roman Empire, slave estates gradually dissolved, and peasants were transformed into serfs or semi-freemen, becoming dependent peasants of feudal lords.
At the same time, the invasion and settlement of the Germans also had an impact on the formation of the manor system. Germanic peoples entered the border areas of the Roman Empire, clashing and interacting with local Romans and other tribes. They lived on agriculture and animal husbandry, combining their original Marc system with the Roman manor system to form a new feudal manor system. The Germans established their own villages and estates in the settled areas, becoming feudal lords, while the peasants became their dependent peasants, engaged in land cultivation and labor.
The formation of the manor system is also closely related to the social and economic context of the time. Western European society in the Middle Ages was divided and in turmoil, with weakened state power, inconvenient transportation, underdeveloped commodity-money relations, and declining cities and commerce. In this context, the feudal lords, relying on their land and power, established an independent, self-sufficient, professionally cooperative, hierarchical, closed and conservative form of economic and social organization on the estate. The laborers on the estates were mainly peasants dependent on the estate, who had to pay various forms of rent to the lord in order to obtain the right to use the land, and were subject to the lord's personal slavery and judicial power.
Manorism flourished between the 9th and 13th centuries, when Western European society was in the midst of fragmentation and upheaval. The establishment of the manor system provided a form of economic and social organization for the stability and development of feudal society. However, there are also some problems and restrictions in the manor system, such as the exploitation and increased burden of peasants, and the solidification of social hierarchies. Over time, with the revival of cities and commerce, the manor system gradually declined, giving way to new economic and social models.
peculiarity
A manor is a self-sufficient natural economic unit consisting of lords' own camps, peasant shares, communal land, and castles. The laborers on the estate were mainly dependent peasants of various statuses, especially serfs in the majority. In order to obtain the right to use the land, they had to pay various rents in kind or in currency to the lord, and submit to the lord's personal slavery and judicial power.
The manor system shows a certain level of specialization in production, and the estate can effectively produce a variety of commodities, such as cheese, wine and other food and drinks, all kinds of tools, carriages, houses and other movable and immovable property, raise pigs, chickens, poultry and livestock that can be produced and used by the estate, and grow and cultivate all kinds of vegetables, fruits, flowers, trees and grasslands that can be eaten, ornamental and beautified by the people of the estate. Although these productions are not yet large-scale and industrialized, they are already very professional and require certain technologies and skills.
The manor system showed close cooperation in labor, and all kinds of agricultural tools, tools and livestock were provided by the lords, and the producers were serfs, who had to work closely together, work and cultivate together, otherwise the manor could not exist and be maintained. And the serfs were generally destitute, they were heavily dependent on lords and estates. Collective labor was practiced on the estate, and no serf or peasant could own all the facilities of daily life on the estate, including the cultivation of the land and the animals and tools necessary for the cultivation of the land.
The manor system shows a clearly closed nature in terms of economy, and although the products produced in the manor have no problem maintaining the lives of the people on the estate, the overall development process is still relatively slow. This is closely related to the closed nature of these estates. Because the manor at that time was basically independent and isolated from the outside world. Because the lords of the manor are very worried and afraid that the entry of external forces will lead to the safety of their property and the manor. The power of the state in medieval Europe was very weak, and the individual estates could not be protected by the state, they had to rely on themselves.
That is to say, not only economically self-sufficient, but also militarily need to have the threat of securing one's estates from foreign invasion and plunder, and even occupation and seizure. These circumstances were closely related to the decentralization of Europe as a whole and the weakness of the power and status of the state and government at that time. At that time, there were many small European countries, kings everywhere, and almost any castle and manor could establish itself as a king, and the surrounding area was divided into its own. As long as you occupy or own a piece of your own territory, you can manage your own territory. This territory may have been divided and plundered, inherited, shared. At the same time, the feudal lord also gave one-tenth of the harvest to the church, which was the tithe.
The manor system shows a pronounced hierarchical nature in society, there are strict hierarchies and status differences within the estate, and the owner of the manor lives in castles or large houses with his family and family members, enjoying superior living conditions and rights. Serfs and attendants lived in other smaller houses on the estate, lived a hard life, and were subject to the orders and control of the lords. Attendants consisted of knights and professional soldiers to provide defense and be ready to perform feudal military obligations for the lord. The larger the manor, the more attendants and serfs. Serfs or subordinate peasants in the manor had to take off their hats to salute the lord when they saw it.
appraise
The manor system in medieval Western Europe was a socio-economic system with far-reaching influence and role. The manor system was based on an agrarian economy, which promoted the development of agriculture and the increase of productivity through the control of the lords of the manor over the land and the labor of serfs. The manor system promoted the specialization and scale of agricultural production in Western Europe, increased the production of grain and other agricultural products, and promoted economic growth and trade.
The manor system established a clear hierarchy in society. Manor lords, as rulers of society, owned land and power, while serfs were under the direct control of manor lords. This hierarchy strictly defined people's social status and roles, established feudal hierarchies, and had a profound impact on social relations and class solidification. Through the manor system, manor lords provided protection and security to serfs and relied financially on their labor for wealth. Serfs were attached to the lords of the estate, providing them with labor and obedience, in return for protection and land use rights. The manor system provided a stable economic foundation and social order for the feudal system.
The manor system also had an impact on culture and education. Manor lords were usually local political and cultural elites who established manor schools and monasteries in the estate, providing educational and training opportunities. These schools cultivated literate and knowledgeable talents, promoted the inheritance and development of culture, and had an important impact on the culture and education of the Middle Ages. The lord of the manor, as an authority figure, is responsible for maintaining order and handling disputes within the manor. They instituted manor laws and regulations to ensure social stability and fairness. The manor system had a profound impact on the legal system and legal culture of the society at that time, and laid the foundation for the formation of the modern legal system. To some extent, the manor system promoted population migration and urban development. The prosperity of the estates and the increase in agricultural output attracted peasants to migrate to the city, driving the development of the city and the rise of commercial activity. The manor system provided the city with human resources and agricultural products, and promoted the prosperity of the city's economy.
epilogue
The manorial system in medieval Western Europe was a socio-economic system with both complexity and dual influence. It promotes agricultural production and economic development to a certain extent, providing social order and stability. However, the manor system also brought with it severe social inequality and exploitation. Serfs were deprived of their freedom and dignity of their labor, and their social status and power were severely restricted. The manor system had a profound impact on the class solidification of society and the restriction of social mobility.
The manor system also has restrictions on the development and freedom of the individual. The excessive power of the lords of the manor limits the autonomy of individuals and their opportunities for development. The stability of the estate system was also based on inequality, depriving peasants of the opportunity to pursue a better life and development. Nevertheless, the manorial system also had an impact on the development of Western European society and culture. It provides opportunities in culture and education, contributing to the transmission and development of culture. The schools and monasteries of the lords of the manor cultivated literate and knowledgeable talents, which promoted the advancement of culture and education.